APC CHIEFTAIN ZAZZAGA CLAIMS RECENT PLATEAU KILLINGS INTENDED TO UNDERMINE TINUBU’S 2027 VOTES
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By: Muftau Fatimo
Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the recent surge of violence and killings in Plateau State as politically motivated.
Reports indicate that over 20 people were killed in the Palm Sunday attack at Gariya Waye in the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area, marking a disturbing resurgence of violence that has raised concerns about a potential breakdown of law and order.
In a statement released to journalists on Monday, Zazzaga, who also serves as Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, asserted that the attacks are intended to undermine the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and discredit Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
He further suggested that the insecurity in Plateau is linked to opponents of Governor Mutfwang’s defection to the APC.
Highlighting the political stakes, Zazzaga noted that the North-Central region had pledged six million votes for Tinubu in 2027, alleging that the ongoing attacks in Plateau and Benue states are designed to diminish the president’s electoral support in the forthcoming election.
“The ongoing attacks and killings in Plateau State are politically motivated. Those behind these killings are opposition politicians who want to derail Mr President’s re-election in the 2027 elections. These are also people who want to discredit Governor Caleb Muftwang, knowing fully well that they can’t stop his re-election.
“They know that with Governor Muftwang having defected to the APC, the chances are high that Mr. President will get 100 percent of the votes from Plateau State, so they have decided to sponsor violence to prevent that from happening.
“To create the impression that the administration is not performing, these individuals have decided to sponsor violent attacks and killings in defenceless communities. They know the natives are with Mr President and the governor, that is why they are engaging in mass killings, to reduce the native population and by so doing, reduce the votes that would go to Mr President in the coming election,” Zazzaga said.
The APC chieftain, who is from Plateau State, linked the upsurge in attacks in the state to the unending cycle of violence in Benue, another North-Central state.
According to him, the native population in Plateau and the people of Benue are being targeted as part of a grand plot to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Zazzaga noted that the North-Central, being the first zone to have six APC governors after Governor Muftwang’s defection, is Tinubu’s number one political stronghold, making the region a conspicuous target for the opposition.
“In the history of Nigeria, no President has cared about the needs of the North-Central more than Tinubu. He has demonstrated this by listening to our cries and agitations, through location of infrastructural projects and also with sensitive appointments.
“Because the opposition are afraid of the bloc votes that will come from the North-Central for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, they are now sponsoring violence and killings, not only to give the impression that Mr President is not working but also to reduce the voting population,” Zazzaga added.
In the same vein, he warned clerics and other religious leaders against making utterances that further promote violence and killings.
He called on the security agencies to beam their searchlight on clerics whose preachings encourage violence.
“Some religious leaders are making unguarded statements that fuel insecurity. I urge them to exercise caution before it is too late. Any responsible religious leader should carefully consider their words to avoid inciting violence. Leadership in faith comes with the duty to promote peaceful coexistence, and those who neglect this responsibility must face the consequences of their actions,” emphasized the APC chieftain.
Zazzaga also called on security agencies to take proactive measures to combat insecurity in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country, noting that efforts to address the issue should consider the political dynamics underlying the situation.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for visiting Jos, Plateau State, following the Palm Sunday killings, describing the visit as a demonstration of empathy and concern for the citizens.
“By pausing other crucial matters of state to visit Jos and show solidarity with the victims, Mr. President demonstrates that he genuinely cares about Nigerians. He feels the people’s pain, and I am pleased that he has directed security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators. I urge all Nigerians to collaborate with the President in tackling insecurity nationwide. Ensuring security is a shared responsibility, not solely that of the President and the security agencies,” Zazzaga stressed.
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